STEPHEN YOUENS FROM SALTBURN-BY-THE-SEA AND SAWBRIDGEWORTH CAUGHT IN SEXUAL GROOMING SCANDAL

In December 2017, the quiet community of Sawbridgeworth was shaken by the revelation that Stephen Youens, a man residing at Five Acres in Harlow, had been involved in a disturbing case of sexual grooming involving an underage boy. The incident drew significant attention from local residents and law enforcement alike.

According to reports, Youens, who was at the time employed as a senior technician with the East of England Ambulance Service based in Loughton, was arrested on October 10, 2017, after investigators uncovered evidence of his attempts to meet a minor for sexual activity. The following day, he was formally charged with sexual grooming. His actions came to light after a group of investigative journalists from CSE Interceptors traced his home address and alerted Essex Police about his suspicious activities.

It was revealed that Youens had moved into the Sawbridgeworth area, specifically to live with his parents, following his dismissal from the ambulance service. His departure from the service was directly linked to his guilty plea in the grooming case. The community was appalled when it was discovered that he had become spooked during the planned meeting, believing he was being set up, which led him to leave the location before the encounter could occur.

Residents of Kecksys in Sawbridgeworth responded with outrage and organized a peaceful protest on November 11, 2017, against his presence in their neighborhood. Approximately ten community members gathered outside his residence, holding banners and voicing their concerns about the safety of their children. A local resident, who wished to remain anonymous, expressed the community’s fears: “We do not want a paedophile living in our community. It’s near to a secondary school and a family shop. There’s two junior schools and an infant school here too. I have my grandchildren here and many others have children and grandchildren too.”

In response to his guilty plea, Youens was sentenced to 18 months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for two years. Additionally, he was subjected to a sexual harm prevention order that will remain in effect for ten years. The community’s concern was further heightened by the proximity of his residence to several educational institutions, raising fears about the safety of local children.

Following the allegations and his guilty plea, Youens was suspended from his position at the East of England Ambulance Service and was subsequently dismissed from his role. The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, which continues to grapple with the implications of his actions and the safety of their neighborhood.